"Upon what couch," I asked the Singing Mouse, "may one have the
most noble dreams?"
The Singing Mouse sat for a time and looked at me with its
bright eye, and it seemed to me that the walls opened and
widened. I saw that I was within a great palace, whose walls
were hung in tapestries, and whose doors were of golden
panelings, and whose windows were of curious crystals, and whose
furnishings were rich and wonderful, and around whose stately
limits swam wide gardens of strange flowers, full of deep
perfumes. I heard soft voices of birds and the music also of
gentle human voices singing, and tenderly played instruments of
silken and silvern strings. It seemed to me that I lay upon a
great couch of thrice-piled down, and touched hands with
delights in all manners that one could think. But alas! I did
not dream as I lay upon this couch.
Then I saw these walls fade away in turn, and in their stead
arose a vast cathedral of the woods. A music was in the trees,
and a solemn mountain stood as orator to the sky for me. My
couch was that of the earth and the leaves, and my jewels were
upon the grasses all about. I touched hands with delights; and
so I dreamed, and was very happy and content.
Again the place changed, and I lay in my own small room, with
naked walls and little cheer or comfort, as you may see. The
couch was hard and narrow, and that which covered it over was
worn and threadbare, and by no means cloth of woven silk and
golden tracery. But it seemed to me that upon the walls were
pictures. And here and there were shadows of things which I had
wished--many things, very sweet and precious. Upon this couch,
as upon that of the earth, it seemed to me that I dreamed....
"There were once some leaves and grasses in this couch," said
the Singing Mouse, "and that is why you dreamed. Around this
manner of resting-place often arises the House of Dreams, and
not, as many have supposed, about the couch of down and silken
tapestries. Always, near a House of Dreams, must be a mountain
or a sea, and trees, and grasses, with the sky also, and the
stars, which are the candles of our dream houses. See, you had
not noticed it, but there is a star in your candle."
I looked, and it was as the Singing Mouse had said. A star was
at the candle top. By its light I could dream nobly, and many
things seemed true which have not yet come true when the star in
the candle does not shine. But they are true in the land of the
Singing Mouse. In that country it is not palaces alone that are
Houses of Dreams. I know this thing is true. Wherefore, all ye
who have come hither, let your hope and your joy be strong; and
by no means despair, for better than despair are hope and joy.
[Illustration]
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